The Assistant Organist of Hartley Parish Church had never been to the Vicarage before. In all the years that Charles Verney had helped Thomas Burchill, there had never been an invitation to the Vicar’s house. Now, Verney had been summoned by Dr Banks twice in as many days, firstly to be told that he was to take charge of the choir and the organ playing until a more permanent arrangement could be put in place, and, secondly, to help with the funeral service for TAB.

Verney had been given permission by the office manager at Templeton Mills to take the Saturday morning off work so that he could attend on the Vicar. Banks’s note summoning the Assistant Organist insisted that he be at the Vicarage at ten o’clock, sharp. Because he had been taken unawares at the suddenness of the first in...

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